Tuskegee University has announced the appointment of S. Keith Hargrove, Ph.D., as Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs effective January 1, 2022. Currently, Dr. Hargrove serves as dean of the College of Engineering at Tennessee State University.

As provost and chief academic officer at Tuskegee, he will be responsible for implementing the university’s 5-Year Strategic Plan, supporting faculty, promoting continuous growth in research activity, and ensuring a rich student experience.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to return to Tuskegee University and serve in this leadership role that impacts academic programs, support faculty, and the engagement of students for success beyond their college experience,” said Dr. Hargrove in a press release. He previously served as an assistant to the dean and associate professor of mechanical engineering in the College of Engineering, Architecture & Physical Sciences at Tuskegee.

As dean of the College of Engineering at Tennessee State, Hargrove has increased enrollment, research funding, and implemented academic programs to prepare students for industry, government, study abroad, and entrepreneurship. In 2017, the college was recognized as the “Best HBCU STEM Program” by HBCU Digest.

Hargrove has conducted research projects with Lockheed Martin, Sikorsky Aircraft, Boeing, NASA, the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Navy, and the Army, in systems engineering, design, virtual and augmented reality, advanced manufacturing, and minority engineering education. He has attracted more than $14M in external funding and is founding director of Tennessee State’s Interdisciplinary Graduate Engineering Research Institute, a group of laboratories funded by external grants and contracts.

Hargrove is recognized as the first GEM Fellow to obtain a Ph.D. He is an advocate for mentoring tenure-track and minority faculty throughout their academic careers, and co-editor and contributor of “Navigating Academia: A Guide for Women and Minority STEM Faculty,” published by Academic Press (Elsevier), and author of “In Search of Academic Leadership: A Primer for Faculty Development.”